Preparation of fluid samples for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and/or imaging analysis

A method of analyzing, preferably by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), fluid samples (e.g. liquids, solutions, melts or slurries) that contain soluble and insoluble components of various elemental, molecular and biological components using a pre-characterized, preferably non-magnetic, membrane or plurality of membranes each having different characteristics, such as different porosities. The fluid sample is first deposited on the one or more membranes and the components to be analyzed are retained thereon through filtration or diffusion and then analyzed, such as with LIBS. Different components, such as different sized particles, are fixed on different membranes depending on the characteristics (e.g. pore size) of the corresponding membrane, which provides pre-sorting of the components before LIBS analysis.